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In 1910, Branch Rickey was the coach of the Ohio Wesleyans. His team went to South Bend, Indiana for a game, but hotel management would not give his black player, Charley Thomas, a room. Charley and Branch were both distraught. Branch assured him there would come a day when that no longer happened.
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Branch Rickey fought behind the scenes to try and change the rules, including the custom that consigned black spectators to the Jim Crow section. However, his efforts were in vain.
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Branch Rickey decided it was time for a change. He took his case before the Brooklyn club, and was granted permission to be the first in bringing blacks into baseball.
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In the spring of 1945, Branch Rickey called a press conference announcing that the Dodgers were organizing the United States League, composed of all black teams.
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In August 1945, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Jackie Robinson, a black player, was approached by Clyde Sukeforth, the Dodger scout. Sukeforth informed Jackie that the Brown Dodgers were looking for top ballplayers. Sukeforth, asked Jackie to meet him at Stevens Hotel after a game.